Arvesen edges out Elmiger for debut stage win

KURT ASLE ARVESEN emerged from a group of a dozen escapees to win the 11th stage of the Tour de France from Lannemezan to Foix.

The debut Tour stage victory for the 33-year-old Norwegian national champion continues a fine race for the CSC team, who also controlled Monday’s stage from Pau to Hautacam with a powerful five-man attack.

Arvesen had the best line of attack out of the final corner, and edged out Martin Elmiger of Ag2r-La Mondiale and Lampre’s Alessandro Ballan by a tyre’s width. However, CSC could not close Frank Schleck’s slender one-second gap on race leader Cadel Evans, who holds onto the yellow jersey going into today’s flat stage from Lavelanet to Narbonne.